Lars Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Gold Coast City

UPDATE - Am sadly changing my review for Lars after our third visit recently. Our first visit was fabulous, second was great and third was pretty disappointing. The guy who works as a host is so rude, blunt and unwelcoming we almost wanted to walk out. I am not sure why he is in that job quite frankly. Can't crack a smile, and just so rude. He was like this on our earlier visits too but we gave him the benefit of the doubt. We all tried to be super nice to him, and his manner is just so off putting and he acts like you're putting him out by showing up. Also the service in general seemed to have dropped, waitress was lovely but table left dirty between courses, forgotten drinks, and whilst the pasta was delicious, it wasn't hot. Also again the random $25 odd charge on my card in addition to what was presented on the bill, with no information on what this extra charge is. Not sure if this is even legal to present a receipt for an amount yet charge a significantly higher amount?

FIRST REVIEW: We really loved the food and the service and will definitely be back. Service was super friendly, helpful and smooth, and still maintained the casual fine dining atmosphere without being over the top or too formal. Stand outs with food was the fish, chicken, carpaccio, pasta, but everything was delicious. Atmosphere was fun without being too loud, but also enough vibe and noise that you could go about your conversations and laughter easily, it was a great balance. There were a few things though that I thought were slightly off putting which is why I have only given it 4 stars, and will hope to make it 5 on my next visit. These items are: Side sauce for steak an additional $6 - seems a bit much when the steak is already $76 and comes with no sides Having the card machine placed down with the tipping option showing, I don't like this and it's awkward. In fact I have stopped tipping now that it seems to be so forced Received the bill which was $xx but then when the card machine was presented there was an additional $30 or so charge. No idea what this was for and didn't keep the receipt unfortunately. It was only afterwards once we left that I realised this. Saw another review saying tax is added after you get the bill? Not sure if this is related. Just minor things but still gave myself and people at my table a bit of awkwardness which we do not want to have. Will definitely be back and hope for a 5 star experience next time....

First and only time I’m going to Lars. There was only 2 of us and at first the restaurant seemed nice with a nice aesthetic. But later to have very disappointing service. The hostess didn’t seem impressed with us the whole time and we waited almost 15 - 20 minutes before being acknowledged. When we placed our order no one checked up on us or even poured us water. Even though every other customer was being served and checked on. We were sat at the bar and even the bartender was talking to customers right next to us and taking orders when we never even got our drinks. Overall, from the atmosphere to the staff it was quite unwelcoming and frankly appalling service. We were pretty much ignored the whole time and it’s crazy they got shocked when we said we wanted to leave and that we didn’t receive our drinks. The only person who was checking on us was the man with the blue shirt and glasses. Thank you to him for doing the bare minimum. Will not be recommending this...

Quite disappointing treatment. We were sat down and it took a long time for someone to take out order. We ordered food and drinks. No one came to check up until we waved them down and we were sitting for about twenty minutes before someone came. They didn’t even top our water until we were there for ages. Our food arrived but our drinks never did and they kept asking people right next to us if they wanted more drinks constantly and the waiters were constantly checking in on the people next to us, but ours never arrived. We just ate our food and let them know our drinks never arrived and left. Not sure if you have to look a “certain part” to be served properly there or not but overall very very disappointing service. Don’t know why they acted so surprised when we wanted to cancel our order and leave. The man in the blue shirt was lovely however and the only one who actually...